As usual in January, we need a little 'Out There' in here

The "there" in the Walker's "Out There" series is often a little unclear, but this year, it seems to be someplace where they're having a lot of fun. An unusually playful collection of performances make up "Out There 25: Reality/Identity/Myth," the 25th anniversary of the series designed to perk up one of our grayest months.

"Out There" month opens Thursday, Jan. 10, through Saturday, Jan. 12, with "The Method Gun," a satire of pretentious acting techniques in which the actors must play their roles in the midst of a minefield of pendulums and vicious animals.

She She Pop's "Testament" is Jan. 17-19; the German company takes off from Shakespeare's "King Lear" to jab at modern family conflicts.

The voguing documentary "Paris Is Burning" and Prince's naughty "Darling Nikki" were two of the inspirations for "(M)imosa -- Twenty Looks or Paris Is Burning at the Judson Church (M)," a frenetic dance piece to be performed Jan. 24-26 by Trajal Harrell, Cecilia Bengolea, Francois Chaignaud and Marlene Monteira Freitas.

"Out There" concludes with "Ganesh Versus the Third Reich," a time-traveling and provocative theater piece in which the titular Indian god visits Nazi Germany in an attempt to reclaim the swastika symbol for its Hindu origins. It will be performed Jan. 31-Feb. 2.